From Little things Bigger Things Grow

Grants Writing Presentation

By Red Tape Busters

From Little things Bigger Things Grow  Created Opportunity to leave Public Sector  Started Planning Business (TCATS)  Job Application/PT Consultants  Asked to lobby QT  Brisbane Extra  ACA  Sunday Mail  Talk Back Radio/ABC

Evolving Services  Started as Lobbyists and writing Job Applications  Moved into Grant Writing  Then Business/Strategic Plans  Now Organisational Development and  Tenders

Successes

 Lobbying – rezonings, resumptions, banks, telecommunications, Government, Councils.  Grants - $21.7 million for hospital project, $4.9 million for disability accommodation, $1million in funding for agricultural peak body, $600k for translation services, $470k for a respite service, $400k for museum display, $340k for farming enterprise, $220k for abattoir  Tenders - $13 million Woolworths tender, $6.4 million for construction project.

Secrets to a Successful Organisation  Strategic Direction  Roles and Responsibilities  Committee Composition  Policies and Procedures  Culture and Ethics

Strategic Direction

It is vital that the Committee sets the strategic direction of the organisation!

Strategic Direction

 Does your organisation:-

 Have a strategic plan in place?  Project Plans for significant projects?  Yearly Operational Plans?  Discuss progress at Committee meetings?  Regularly revise plans and direction  according to organisational needs

Strategic/Business Plan

 Strategic/Business Plans should include the following as a minimum: Overview/History of Organisation  Goals/Objectives/Projects for the next three to five years  SWOT Analysis  Market analysis/Demographic analysis  Financial Information  Supported by a yearly Operational Plan

Project Planning

 For NFP’s it is vital to identify ALL projects that require funding over at least the next 12 months.  A project can be as simple as the need for a new computer or could be a significant upgrade of facilities.  A “project” to us is anything requiring funding.

Secrets to Grant Writing

 Be a professional Organisation  Identify organisational goals

 Identify all possible grant opportunities  Progress the best opportunities based on needs  Write great submissions/responses Note that the actual writing is last on the list of importance not first!

Identifying Grant Opportunities

ďƒ˜ It is important that you identify all possible grant opportunities that relate to your organisation/project prior to considering preparing responses. This requires extensive research.

Matching Opportunities to Requirements

 Following your research it is VITAL that you now match your projects to grant opportunities for NFP’s and your organisational requirements.  This is a key to successful grant writing – applying to the right funding program for the right project!

Matching Projects to Programs  Your focus should be to: Match opportunities to best meet your organisational needs  Prepare a Matrix – forward plan over next 6 months at least

Writing the Response  Guidelines – read the guidelines, read the specifications, read them repeatedly  Audience – write to the audience  No Acronyms  Consider font, format, space/character/word limits

Writing the Response

 Know the organisation - research

 ‘Deconstruct’ the question/criteria  Talk the talk – align language, individualise  Clear & succinct

Writing the Response

 Reference to other documents

 Use dot point, figures, statistics to validate your case  Draft, refine, draft, refine  Write with passion but be fair dinkum

Contact us at Red Tape Busters – http://www.redtapebusters.com/ should you require more information about this article or if you require specialist grant, tender or job application writing experience. We can assist you to achieve your goals and objectives!

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Contact Us Red Tape Busters Pty Ltd. ABN: 39 094 823 417 PO Box 3126 WARNER QLD 4500 Telephone: 07 3882 2055 Facsimile: 07 3882 2066 Email Address: admin@redtapebusters.com.au